Israel and Italy have signed a new civil aviation agreement, which will boost the number of airlines from the two countries making scheduled flights between them. Two scheduled airlines from each country may make flights on the Tel Aviv-Rome and Tel Aviv-Milan routes.
The Israeli and Italian civil aviation authorities also agreed that up to 26 scheduled weekly flights can be operated on Israel-Italian routes.
Currently, one Israeli and one Italian schedule airline are authorized to fly between the two countries. Each airline can make up to 20 weekly flights during summer and 15 during winter.
Minister of Transport Shaul Mofaz said that the agreement was another step in the ministry's policy to liberalize Israel's aviation market. "The substantial increase in the number of flights and seating capacity will meet the anticipated growth in demand by Israeli passengers and foreign tourists," he said.
Last week, the Ministry of Tourism completed preparations of a new and expanded procedure for 2008 to encourage aerial communications between Israel and charter companies within the Security Net agreements. The new procedure is designed to encourage tourism wholesalers, airline and charter companies in Israel and overseas to operate flights to Israel, with the main objective being a significant increase in charter flights to Israel from new destinations.
Last month, the ministry announced that Opera Romana, the Vatican's official travel agency and one of the largest Catholic agencies in the world, would begin operating six weekly charter flights from Italy to Israel. Opera Romana has chartered planes from Mistral Air which will carry the Opera Romana logo. Ministry of Tourism director general Shaul Tzemach predicts that the new initiative from Opera Romana will add 7,000 hotel overnights per week throughout Israel and in Bethlehem.
The Tourism Ministry added that 500,000 pilgrims visited Israel during 2007, 25% more than in 2006. 80,000 pilgrims visited Israel in January-February, 30% more than in the corresponding period 2007. 5,000 tourists arrived from Italy February, 70% more than February 2007.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on April 8, 2008
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